Method and system of packet based identifier locator network protocol (ilnp) load balancing and routing

A network element serving as a load balancer (LB) to provide load balancing and routing for a plurality of end systems in a network, the network element comprising:

• a communication module configured to receive a request packet with Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) source and destination addresses specified, and wherein a source address is associated with a requesting correspondent node (CN) and a destination address is associated with a set of target end systems, and wherein nonce information in the request packet indicates that the CN is Identifier Locator Network Protocol (ILNP) capable,
• wherein the communication module further configured to notify the CN of the unique direct path locator prefix of the specific end system upon discovering an end system nonce for communication between the CN and the specific end system;
• a nonce processor configured to extract an nonce generated by a specific end system from a reply message upon receiving the reply message from the specific end system;
• and
• a network processor comprising a load assignment module, the load assignment module comprising:
• a target address translator configured to direct the request packet to a specific end system from the set of target end systems, wherein the set of target end systems is identifiable by the requesting CN by a load balanced address, wherein each target end system has a unique direct path locator prefix and a common ILNP identifier, and wherein the load balanced address is a single IPv6 address containing a common IPv6 locator prefix and the common ILNP identifier shared among the set of target end systems;
• an address updater configured to overwrite the common IPv6 locator prefix of the destination address with the unique direct path locator prefix of the specific end system;
• and
• a data forwarder configured to forward the request packet to the specific end system.

A method to provide load balancing and routing for a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) in a network, wherein the network contains at least one load balancer (LB) that balances traffic load across the plurality of VM, the method comprising:

• receiving at the LB a request packet with Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) source and destination addresses specified, and wherein a source address is associated with a requesting correspondent node (CN) and a destination address is associated with a set of target VMs, and nonce information in the packet indicates that the CN is Identifier Locator Network Protocol (ILNP) capable;
• directing the request packet to a specific VM from the set of target VMs, wherein the set of target VMs is identified by a load balanced address, wherein each target VM has a unique direct path locator prefix and a common ILNP identifier, wherein the load balanced address is a single IPv6 address containing a common IPv6 locator prefix and the common ILNP identifier shared among the set of target VMs;
• overwriting the common IPv6 locator prefix of the destination address with the unique direct path locator prefix of the specific VM;
• forwarding the request packet to the specific VM;
• and
• notifying the CN of the unique direct path locator prefix of the specific VM upon discovering an end system nonce for communication between the CN and the specific VM.

A load balancer (LB) to provide load balancing and routing to a tenant for a plurality of VMs in a network, the LB comprising:

• a communication module configured to receive a request packet with Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) source and destination addresses specified, and wherein a source address is associated with a requesting correspondent node (CN) and a destination address is associated with a set of target VMs, and wherein nonce information in the request packet indicates that the CN is Identifier Locator Network Protocol (ILNP) capable,
• wherein the communication module further configured to notify the CN of the unique direct path locator prefix of the specific end system upon discovering an end system nonce for communication between the CN and the specific end system;
• a nonce processor configured to extract an nonce generated by the specific VM from a reply message upon receiving the reply message from the specific VM;
• and
• a network processor comprising a load assignment module, the load assignment module comprising:
• a target address translator configured to direct the request packet to a specific VM from the set of target VMs, wherein the set of target VM is identifiable by the requesting CN by a load balanced address, wherein each target VM has a unique direct path locator prefix and a common ILNP identifier, and wherein the load balanced address is a single IPv6 address containing a common IPv6 locator prefix and the common ILNP identifier shared among the set of target VMs;
• an address updater configured to overwrite common IPv6 locator prefix of the destination address with the unique direct path locator prefix of the specific VM;
• and
• a data forwarder configured to forward the request packet to the specific VM.